Germans confirm Focus for WTCC.

German team Hotfiel Sport has confirmed that it will campaign a pair of new Ford Focus touring cars in next year's inaugural FIA World Touring Car Championship.

The new model Focus has been developed as a customer-run Super 2000 competition car , allowing existing and potential customer teams to compete in the highest level of touring car racing with an affordable budget and a competitive car. Hotfiel, which ran a pair of privately developed Focus entries in the 20904 European Touring Car Championship is the first team to announce such plans and, while no drivers have been revealed at this stage, the team has confirmed that it intends to compete in all ten proposed WTCC events next year.

"We're delighted that Hotfiel has taken the initiative to enter the new Ford Focus in 2005, and we will be watching their progress with great interest," said Ford Team RS Director, Jost Capito, "We hope this will inspire other teams to develop their own programmes using the new Ford Focus.

"Ford of Europe's priority remains the FIA World Rally Championship with the Focus RS WRC, but we will continue to encourage privateers who realise the strength and competitiveness of our cars across a wide range of motorsports."